More about Display Energy Certificates (DECs)

Display Energy Certificates (DECs) need to be prominently displayed in buildings over 1,000m² occupied by public authorities or institutions providing a public service. DECs are valid for one year and their accompanying reports are valid for seven years.

DECs rate the actual or operational energy performance of a building against established benchmarks and take into consideration the ways in which occupants use the building.

The operational rating on a DEC illustrates how efficiently the building is using energy. To calculate this rating your Low Carbon Energy Assessor will require information on the:

• type of building under assessment
• total floor area of the building
• annual energy use of the building (gas and electricity)
• methods used to heat and cool the building

In addition, to ensure the accompanying Advisory Report provided by your Low Carbon Energy Assessors (LCEA) will provide relevant guidance to assist you in improving your Operational Rating in subsequent years s/he will benefit from the following additional information:

• How the heating and cooling is controlled
• The use and method for heating/cooling water in the building
• Type of lighting used in the building
• Any onsite energy generation (renewables etc)

Some newer buildings will have this information to hand, especially if the facilities managers have been maintaining a log book or operations and maintenance manuals (O&M); but often, this information will need to be collected from a variety of documents held with separate departments within the organisation.